Call for action over reckless driving videos put online

A leading expert on cyber-psychology has urged immediate action against social media platforms for hosting videos that showcase reckless driving. Prof Mary Aiken, from Capital Technology University in Washington DC, made her stance clear during an appearance on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme following a tragic incident where five teenagers lost their lives and four others sustained serious injuries when a car drove the wrong way on the M9 highway in Kildare. The vehicle collided with another on the opposite side of the road.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly echoed similar sentiments over the weekend, stating that some individuals engage in such dangerous driving solely for the purpose of garnering social media likes. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that these reckless acts pose a significant threat not just to others but also to those involved.

Garda Representative Association Vice President John Joe O'Connell added that there are groups of young individuals who constantly try to outdo each other on social media by creating and sharing videos of their unlawful activities, often involving pursuits and driving the wrong way along dual carriageways or motorways, all in pursuit of likes.

Aiken stressed that while the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, is keen on addressing law and order issues in practical terms, cyberspace also requires immediate attention. She pointed out that social media companies, despite not considering themselves as media outlets, indeed are. These platforms enable people to engage in dangerous behaviors online, detached from real-world consequences, due to a phenomenon known as online disinhibition.

For the young drivers involved in these reckless acts, the pursuit of likes leads them to disregard the potential dangers, effectively disconnecting them from the risks and realities of their actions.